Plant Protection Database at www.indiaagronet.com

		Pests of Cruciferous crops

SN	Features	Name of Pest
		Diamond black moth Plutella xylostella
	Host plants	Cabbage, Cauliflower, Knolkhol, Raddish, Mustard, etc.
	Identification	Moth is small, brownish grey in colour have 3 pale whitish triangular spots on hind margin of the fore wings which form a diamond pattern, when the insect is at rest with wings folded along the body. Caterpillar small, greenish smooth with some scattered hairs & tapering at both the ends. Pupation: Pupate on leaves in silken cacoons.
	Nature of damage	Active stage: throughout the winter season.Young larvae feeds on epidermis of leaves while full grown larvae bore inside the heads. Round transparent patches appear on leaves due to feeding. In case of severe infestation plants may be completely skeletonised.
	Control measures	Spraying with 0.05%, Malathion or Quinolphos or fenitrothion as soon as infestation is noticed. Spraying with B.T (Bacillus thuringiensis) @ 1-1.5 kg/ha Spraying with 4% NSKE (neem seed kerenal extract). It is necessary to add wetting and spreading agent viz. Teepol, or Sandovit @ 1 ml/lit Trap cropping with mustard.


		Name of Pest
		Mustard saw fly Athalia proxima K.
	Host plants	Cruciferous crops like cabbage, cauliflower, raddish, turnip, knolkhol, etc.
	Identification	Adult flies are small black in colour. They have two pairs of wings, larva small, black and smooth. Have tendency to curl up and drop on the ground when disturbed. Pupation: Pupate in soil in earthen cacoons.
	Nature of damage	Active stage: During Sept to Dec Larvae feed on leaves from margin inward mostly during morning & evening. They cut small holes into the leaves & skeletonised the plants. Frequently large no.of larvae can be found on each leaf.
	Control measures	Hand picking of larvae Spray with 0.05% malathion or 0.1% carbaryl as soon as infestation is noticed.


		Name of Pest
		Aphids Brevicoryne brassicae
	Host plants	Cruciferous crops, brinjal, potato, chillies, tobacco, tomato, etc.
	Identification	The adults are very small soft-bodied insect yellowish grey in colour.
	Nature of damage	Nymphs & adults suck the cell sap from lower surface of leaves. Their continuous feeding lead to general yellowing of leaves and subsequent drying. Besides the pest excrete sugary substance which hampers the photosynthetic activity of plant.
	Control measures	Nursery spray with 0.05% malathion or 0.02% phosphamidon or 0.03% dimethoate Field application with 0.05% Malathion as soon as infestation is noticed.